“As I said when I was hired, we need to get more flexible, more athletic and build pitching depth,” Dipoto said. “This trade allows us to do all three. Powell brings speed, defense on on-base percentage to the table and could be ready to help us as soon as 2016, while Karns and Riefenhauser give us young, but experienced, pitching options”.

Karns, who turns 28 on Nov. 25, went 7-5 with a 3.67 ERA (60 ER, 147.0 IP) in 27 games, 26 starts with Tampa Bay in 2015. He limited opponents to a .239 (132×553) average, while walking 56 and striking out 145. Karns led all American League rookies in innings pitched (147.0 IP), strikeouts (145) and game starts (26), while his 7 wins were tied for 5th-most. Among A.L. rookies with at least 100.0 innings pitched, he ranked 3rd in ERA and 2nd in opponent batting average (.239).

Karns was originally selected by Washington in the 12th round of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Texas Tech University. He made his Major League debut with the Nationals on May 28, 2013 vs. Baltimore, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits over 4.1 innings, but did not factor into the team’s 9-3 win. Karns was acquired by the Rays from the Nationals in exchange for C Jose Lobaton, LHP Felipe Rivero and OF Drew Vettleson on February 13, 2014. In parts of three Major League seasons, Karns is 8-7 with a 4.00 ERA (76 ER, 171.0) in 32 games, 31 starts with Washington (2013) and Tampa Bay (2014-15).

Riefenhauser, 25, made 17 appearances over four separate stints with the Rays in 2015, combining for a 1-0, 5.52 mark, all in relief. In his final 11 appearances (Sept. 1-end of season) he posted a 2.16 ERA (2 ER, 8.1 IP), closing the season with a career-high 7 consecutive scoreless appearances. Overall, he was with Tampa Bay April 17-May 28 (including a stint on the 15-day DL April 23-May 28 with left shoulder inflammation), June 12-17, July 1-4 and September 1 – end of season. He appeared in 29 games (all in relief) with AAA Durham, posting a 4-2, 2.86 mark with 1 save (11 ER, 34.2 IP).

Riefenhauser was originally selected by Tampa Bay in the 20th round of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He made his Major League debut with the Rays on April 19, 2014 vs. the Yankees, retiring all four batters faced. Overall in two seasons with Tampa, he was 1-0 with a 6.30 ERA (14 ER, 20.0 IP) in 24 relief appearances. Riefenhauser went 30-23 with a 2.77 ERA (138 ER, 448.0 IP) in 191 games, 42 starts over 6 seasons in the minor leagues.

Powell, 22, hit .295 (131×444) with 66 runs scored, 16 doubles, 9 triples, 3 home runs, 40 RBI, 61 walks, 18 stolen bases and a .385 on-base percentage combined between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham in 2015. Powell began the season with Montgomery and was named to the 2015 Southern League All-Star team. Overall with the Biscuits, he hit .328 (78×238) with 44 runs scored, 6 doubles, 6 triples, 1 home run, 22 RBI, 29 walks, 11 stolen bases and a .408 on-base percentage in 61 games. At the time of his promotion to Durham on June 26, Powell ranked among the Southern League leaders in average (3rd, .328), hits (3rd, 78), runs scored, (T3rd, 44) and on-base percentage (4th, .408). Over 56 games with Durham, Powell hit .257 (53×206) with 22 run scored, 10 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs and 18 RBI.

Powell was originally selected by Oakland in the 20th round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Orange Coast College. He was traded from the Athletics along with C John Jaso, INF Daniel Roberson and cash considerations to Tampa Bay in in exchange for SS Yunel Escobar and INF/OF Ben Zobrist on January 10, 2015. Over four seasons in the minor leagues, he batted .308 (333×1082) with 170 runs scored, 34 doubles, 17 triples, 6 home runs, 95 RBI, 163 walks and 53 stolen bases in 294 games. In his career has a .401 on-base percentage, including a .451 on-base percentage in 2014 that was 2nd-best in the minor leagues.

Farquhar, 28, was 1-8, 5.12 ERA (29 ER, 51.0 IP) with 1 save in 43 games over five separate stints with Seattle in 2015. In his three-year (2013-2105) career with Seattle, Farquhar was 4-12, 3.85 ERA (76 ER, 177.2 IP) with 18 saves in 155 games. He has also appeared in the Majors with Toronto (2011), and has a career MLB mark of 4-12, 3.96 ERA (79 ER, 179.2 IP) with 18 saves in 158 games.

Miller, 26, hit .258 (113×438) with 44 runs, 22 doubles, 4 triples, 11 home runs and 46 RBI in 144 games in 2015. He appeared in games at shortstop, center field, left field, right field, second base and third base. Originally a second round pick by the Mariners in the 2011 draft, Miller appeared in 343 games with Seattle over the past three (2013-2015) seasons, batting a combined .248 (275×1111) with 48 doubles, 14 triples, 29 home runs and 118 RBI.

Morrison, 28, hit .225 (103×457) with 47 runs, 15 doubles, 3 triples, 17 home runs and 54 RBI in 146 games this season, appearing in 140 games (115 starts) at first base, 3 games (1 start) in right field & 1 start in left field. In two seasons with Seattle, he hit .241 (191×793) with 88 runs, 35 doubles, 3 triples, 28 home runs and 92 RBI in 245 games. In six Major League seasons with Miami (2010-13) & Seattle (2014-15), he has hit .246 (513×2088) with 247 runs, 108 doubles, 19 triples, 70 home runs and 254 RBI in 608 games.

The first day of the Mariners Winter Caravan continued this afternoon with a stop at the Cheney Family Branch of the Boys & Girls Club of South Puget Sound in Gig Harbor. Relief pitcher Danny Farquhar and broadcaster Dave Sims talked to the group of over 150 kids about motivation, education and respect, and the Mariner Moose had fun with the crowd acting his normal silly self.

The annual Mariners Caravan kicked off today with the first of two stops, starting with Dieringer Heights Elementary School in Lake Tapps.

Relief pitcher Danny Farquhar, broadcaster Dave Sims and of course, the most popular guest, the Mariner Moose. Danny, Dave and The Moose were part of a D.R.E.A.M Team assembly, talking to the 500+ kids about staying away from drugs, being respectful to yourself and others, education, attitude and motivation. Charlie Furbush was scheduled to also take part in the first leg of the caravan, but due to travel delays on the East Coast, was not able to make it.

Here are some photos of the first caravan stop. We’ll have another post this afternoon following a trip to the Boys and Girls Club in Gig Harbor.

Danny Farquhar has recorded saves in each of the last two Mariners wins.

Throughout the season, Mariners broadcaster Aaron Goldsmith will provide content on From the Corner of Edgar & Dave, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the Mariners players and organization. Today he looks at the recent impressive outings by right-handed reliever Danny Farquhar.

After Danny Farquhar worked a season-high three scoreless innings on July 31 at Fenway park, pitching coach Carl Willis said the development of the right-hander’s curveball “raises his ceiling” and will “allow him to pitch more meaningful innings.” It was only three days later that Farquhar collected his first Major League save, and then racked up his second the very next afternoon.

Since going through a rough four-game stretch from July 6-19 (3.1 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 18.90 ERA), the 5-foot-9 Farquhar has given up only two hits over his last 11 2/3 scoreless innings spanning seven outings while walking four and fanning 18 batters.

Talking with Danny after his appearance against the Red Sox, he said that his cutter is still his best pitch. However, he was also quick to point out that adding his 12-6 curveball to his mix more often helps change hitters’ eye levels and thus plays off his cut and four-seam fastball well.

For as impressive as Farquhar was Sunday, retiring the three final hitters on nine pitches, the efforts of Yoervis Medina shouldn’t be lost. His slider was as filthy as we’ve seen it this year, and he looked awfully calm sitting down Manny Machado, Adam Jones, and Chris Davis in order in the seventh inning. The six batters he retired over two innings have a combined 98 home runs this season.